Chain-Reaction Tunnel Crash Hurts 7

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A passenger died and six other people were hurt in a multi-vehicle accident in the Lincoln Tunnel that brought traffic to a near standstill at the peak of Tuesday's morning rush, authorities say.

A minibus and two other vehicles were involved in the accident in the tunnel's inbound center tube around 8:30 a.m., the Port Authority said. The agency said a red BMW sped into the tunnel and collided with a Mercedes livery van, which collided with the minibus.

Steve Benevento, 49, of Summit, New Jersey, died after the crash, the Port Authority said. He was a passenger in the Mercedes van when he had trouble breathing. The emergency was called in as one of cardiac arrest, the Port Authority said. He was taken to St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, where he later died.